Six months in prison for chemist burglary

By
ANDREW THOMSON

Six months in prison for chemist burglary

A MAN who stole drugs valued at $13,629 from a Camperdown chemist has been jailed for six months.

Christopher David Kane, 35, of Errey Street, Camperdown, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court for a contest mention this week.

Police allege Kane and a co-offender went to the pharmacy on June 7 carrying jemmy bars and broke in.

They were alleged to have stolen 42 different types of drugs valued at $13,629.15.

Police alleged Kane went back to the same pharmacy later that day still wearing a distinctive hoodie which was captured on security camera footage during the break-in. The chemist recognised the distinctive hoodie and when police searched Kane he was carrying 115 tablets. He told police he got the tablets from an associate in a swap.

Defence counsel Amanda Chambers said Kane denied responsibility for the burglary and the evidence was circumstantial.

She said the tablets found in his possession were only a small part of what had been stolen and her client now wanted to get on the methadone program.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan offered to sentence Kane to 12 months’ imprisonment with six months to serve before being eligible for parole.

He said Kane owed six months in jail on a previously suspended sentence.

Mr Coghlan warned Kane he would not get a similar offer if he came back to court on another day but the magistrate added he was trying to resolve all the matters.

After a short adjournment Kane accepted the offer.

He also pleaded guilty to a burglary at a Cobden pharmacy on November 1. He and another man broke a rear window to get in but they set off an audio alarm.

The men fled and were confronted by a local businessman with a cricket bat. The bungling crooks then ran out of petrol on the way back to Camperdown and had to call a taxi.

As well as being jailed, Kane was ordered to pay $13,629 restitution for the drugs stolen and another $758 for damage caused to the Cobden pharmacy.